Turkey friendlies: Nigeria beat Haiti 2-1, faces tougher New Zealand next 

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’sNo.1 Women’s Football Journalist

Nigeria’s senior women football  team, Super Falcons on Friday grinded out a 2-1 victory over lowly rated Haiti in the first of two friendly matches in Antalya, Turkey ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final billed for  Australia and New Zealand.

This victory is coming on the heels of Nigeria’s 1-0 defeat of Costa Rica in the Revelation Cup in Mexico a month ago to snap a seven-match loses dating back to the 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nation (WAFCON) in Morocco where the Super Falcons lost three matches to South Africa, Morocco and Zambia respectively.

The Randy Waldrum-led team went on to lose four more Grade A international matches in quick succession to United States of America (USA), Canada and Japan during the last FIFA international windows.

But Nigeria has bounced back to the winning ways by winning two matches back to back; versus Costa Rica in Mexico and Haiti on Friday in Turkey in the team’s final preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Down Under later in the year.

France-based striker, Esther Okoronkwo who also scored the lone goal which was enough to beat Costa Rica in Revelation Cup in Mexico in February drew the first blood while  FC Barcelona women’s team striker, Asisat Oshoala scored the  second for the Africans at the Emir Sports Complex, Antalya.

The Falcons struggled in the most part of the first half to breakdown the Haitians during the match just as  Oshoala had the first real chance in the game but her attempt proved not to be Nigeria’s opener.

The Barcelona striker then saw her shot blocked in the 15th minute of the game and was unfortunate to see her goal seven minutes later ruled out for offside.

In the 26th minute, Rasheedat Ajibade’s fine shot hit the woodwork as the Falcons continued to put the pressure on the Haitians.

Also, US-based Michelle Alozie delivered a cross in the 38th minute but Oshoala’s shot afterwards went wide.

However, Okoronkwo broke the duck in the 40th minute as the Saint-Étienne striker let fly a free kick on the edge of the box with her left foot that had the ball squirm past the grasps of the Haitian keeper and nestled at the bottom left corner.

Again, Ajibade went close to doubling the lead but her effort went wide as four minutes were added after 45 minutes with Nigeria looking the likelier side to get the next goal but the first half ended that way.

Meanwhile, the Haitians threatened to restore parity ten minutes into the second half but former Super Falconets captain, Tosin Demehin headed the ball away from inside the Nigerian box to have the team remain in control.

But it was Oshoala who grabbed her sought-after goal in the 58th minute when she bundled home the ball from a goalmouth scramble.

Returning Super Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie was brought off the substitute bench in place of goalscorer, Okoronkwo in the 65th minute.

Chiamaka Nnadozie was at her best to deny the Haitians two minutes after the change but there was no stopping the opponents who reduced the deficit as they profited from a defensive mixup to get one goal back.

There was frenetic finish to the game as Ajibade and Oshoala missed gilt-edged chances while the Haitians struck the woodwork from range with Nnadozie beaten.

The match ended with a slim Nigerian advantage  as the former African Champions will on Tuesday file out for the second of the two friendly matches against co-host New Zealand in an encounter which will provide a real test for the Super Falcons preparedness ahead of the global football fiesta later in the year.